Change her position and location frequently so she has new things to see

Hold objects about 8 inches from her face and move slowly from side to side

Talk to her about what you’re doing and seeing her do

If the room isn’t too brightly lit, baby may be able to keep her eyes open longer and observe for longer periods of time

Respond to your baby’s cries promptly and effectively. This reassures her that her needs will be taken care of

Language Development

Look for Your Baby To:

Recognize the voices of his parents

Begin to coo and gurgle during awake and alert times

Have different cries for different needs

Respond to sounds

Prefer voices to other sounds

Here’s What You Can Do:

Talk and sing to your baby frequently

Mimic baby’s sounds

Listen to your baby’s cries and learn to recognize what the differences mean. By responding, you are teaching your baby that she can get her needs met

Provide lots of different sounds for your baby to listen to

Read to your baby, even though she doesn’t understand the words

Social-Emotional Development

Look For Your Baby To:

Enjoy watching people in his surroundings, especially faces

Be comforted by your touch and voice, and stop crying when held

Begin to smile at parents

Begin to develop a sensitivity to the moods and feelings of parents

Expect that his needs will be taken care of

Here’s What You Can Do:

Provide baby with lots of opportunities to watch things and people around her

Feel free to hold and cuddle your baby often

Look at your baby often and talk to her as you care for her

As you hold your baby in your arms, smile and make little noises to your baby, and let her know that you are happy to be with her

Respond to your baby’s needs when she cries. This teaches her that you can figure out what she needs

Remember, you CANNOT spoil a newborn baby!

Physical Development

Look for Your Baby To:

Begin muscle development in a "head to toe" pattern

Try to lift his head—it will be wobbly and still needs lots of support

Move arms and legs; begin to bring his fist to his mouth

Follow people and objects with his eyes

Here’s What You Can Do:

Provide baby with some "tummy time" so he can practice raising his head a few times each day (Remember to always put your baby to sleep on his back)

Encourage baby to follow an interesting object with his eyes by holding it 8-10 inches in front of him and moving it slowly side to side

Premature Babies

If your baby was born earlier than expected, developmental milestones may be "off schedule" a bit. Don’t be concerned if your premature baby isn’t doing all of these things yet. You may need to save this booklet for a few weeks and then check again.

All Babies are Different

All babies develop at their own rates. Don’t worry if your child is "early" or "late" in some areas of development. Notice their growth in each area so you can encourage each new stage. Your job is to provide opportunities for your child to learn new things when he or she is ready, without being pushed or pressured. If you have concerns, contact your health care provider.

Let's Make it Safe

Is Well Water Safe for Babies?If you get your drinking water from a well, it is important to have your water tested before you use it to mix your baby’s formula. Some wells can contain high levels of bacteria and nitrates which are harmful to your baby. Have your well water tested once a year to protect your family’s health. For more information on well water safety, visit www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells.

Warming Baby’s BottleMicrowaving is not recommended as a safe way to warm your baby’s bottle of breastmilk or liquid. Microwaving can cause hot spots in the liquid which can burn a baby’s mouth. Some plastic bottles are not durable enough to withstand microwaving and may burst, burning a baby. Use a bottle warmer, or put the bottle in a pan of hot water. Always shake the bottle to be sure the heat is even, and test on your wrist for proper temperature.

Safe Travel for BabiesIt is a law in all states that babies MUST be buckled in approved car seats whenever traveling in the car. If you have questions on how to use or install your car seat, call the Avera McKennan car seat coordinator at 605 322 3485.

Product RecallsAll parents should monitor recalls of children’s products. We recommend the Consumer Product Safety Commission which will either email you periodic updates on product recalls, or send a newsletter by mail. Visit www.cpsc.gov.

Health Hints

ImmunizationsChildhood immunizations are important! Talk to your baby’s health care provider to set up a schedule of immunizations for your child.

When to Call the DoctorIt will take time to adjust to your baby’s habits and schedule. It is normal to be concerned about little problems that are common in the first few days of life. However, a call to your health care provider is a good idea if your baby has any of the following symptoms:

You can also call Avera McKennan Ask A Nurse at 605-322-6877 or 1-877-AT-AVERA 24 hours a day if you need help deciding whether to take your child to the doctor or you have questions.

Little Bodies Need Big Nutrition

Feeding Your Baby is One of Your Most Important Jobs!The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life, and also recommends that breastfeeding continue for the first year. Fortified infant formula is an acceptable substitute if you choose not to breast feed. Most babies will not need solids until 6 months of age. Adding solids too early might lead to allergies. Despite what some people will tell you, feeding cereal will not help your baby sleep through the night. Do not add cereal to a baby’s bottle; this is a choking hazard. If you have questions about breast feeding, call the Avera Breastfeeding Center at 605-322-4490. Check with your health care provider if you have other feeding questions.

Thinking About Guidance and Discipline

Can You Spoil a Baby?Research tells us that you cannot spoil a baby who is less than 6 months old! Babies of this age only cry if they have a need, and they depend on you to help them. Crying is a baby’s main way of communicating—it does not mean the baby is being demanding, or that you are not a good parent. When you meet your baby’s needs quickly, the baby gains confidence in finding ways to have his or her needs met, and learns to trust you. This is a very important foundation for baby’s brain development. As parents and babies become more familiar with each other, you will learn to recognize differences in the baby’s cry and what they mean.

Why Does Baby Cry?Babies cry for a reason. It is the only way they have to let you know they need something. Some common reasons for crying might be:

Hunger — Try feeding slowly

Pain — Change position, burp, massage

Tired — Rock or put baby in the crib

Sick — Check for fever, call your health care provider

Too hot or cold — Add or remove clothing

Too much stimulation — Provide quiet time

Needs a diaper change — Change diaper

Needs to suck — Offer breast or pacifier

Lonely — Hold baby, talk, sing, use baby sling

Needs change of position — Move baby to a new location or position

Some babies cry more than others. Some babies have certain times of the day when they cry. Crying is a normal behavior. If you think your baby cries too much, or more than is typical, talk to your health care provider.

Childcare Corner

Selecting ChildcareIf you will be returning to work and leaving your baby in childcare, you have important decisions to make. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make the best decision for your child’s care.

Decide if you want a family daycare or a daycare center

Interview all possible candidates and check references thoroughly

Ask about the childcare providers training and experience

Find out what the adult/child ratio will be, especially with infants

The home or center should meet basic safety requirements

Be sure you agree with the philosophy of the provider with regard to discipline, learning, television time, etc.

Be sure your provider knows about Shaken Baby Syndrome and how to prevent it

Be sure your providers place your baby on his or her back to sleep.

For more information on choosing childcare, contact the Help!line Center by dialing 211 in the Sioux Falls area or visit their website www.helplinecenter.org and click on the childcare guide.

Activity Corner

Your child’s favorite toy at this age is you! He loves to see your face and hear your voice. Talk to your baby using exaggerated facial expressions and a higher pitched voice—he sees and hears these best. Sing to your baby. Your baby doesn’t care if you are in tune or not! It is not too early to read to your baby. He doesn’t understand the words, but looking at books can help with eye development and focusing abilities. These activities seem simple, but they play an important role in developing your baby’s brain!

Help your baby experience a variety of textures by giving her things to hold or touch and by varying the fabrics she comes in contact with. Make a floor blanket by sewing together fabrics squares of different textures (satin, terrycloth, fleece, etc.).

A Word About TelevisionBecause of the brain development occurring, real life experiences are better for babies than watching television or other electronic screens. The sound and lights from television, even children’s programs, can be distracting to babies and can keep them from doing activities that are more helpful. Watching a one dimensional television screen does not promote eye development in babies—learning to focus on distance, tracking side to side and experiencing depth. Most experts recommend keeping the TV off as much as possible to maximize your baby’s learning.

Mommies Matter; Dads Do, Too

It is important that parents get adequate rest. The demands of a newborn can be exhausting! Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and family. Keep your days as simple as possible and don’t expect to accomplish too much. Your house may not be as clean as you like, or you may not get all the laundry done, but that’s OK. After a few months, you will feel more able to tackle these tasks.

Take time to get to know your baby. Don’t expect to know how to do everything perfectly overnight. It takes time to understand your baby’s schedule, cues and cries.

Many parents don’t expect the strong feelings they have during the first few weeks after a new baby comes home. Tears and "baby blues" can happen for no apparent reason. For mothers, the changes in your body after delivery may trigger these feelings, but sometimes dads experience these strong feelings as well. Usually these feelings are perfectly normal. If you think your feelings are more intense than normal, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, contact your health care provider immediately.